Cirrus SR22 (G3, IO-550-N, non-turbo)

Cirrus Aircraft delivered the first SR22 in 2001, building on the lessons of the earlier SR20. The original SR22 used a 310 hp Continental IO-550 with normally-aspirated induction, fixed gear, and the CAPS whole-airframe parachute system that had been Cirrus's defining safety feature since the SR20 launched in 1999. Production scaled rapidly through the 2000s, with the SR22 quickly becoming the best-selling certified piston single in the world.

The G3 generation launched in 2007 with significant updates. The wing was longer (38.4 ft vs 35.5 ft), which improved climb at altitude and increased useful load. Fuel capacity increased to 92 gallons from the earlier 81. The Cirrus Perspective glass panel by Garmin replaced the earlier Avidyne panel. Cabin ergonomics improved with better seats and updated trim. The G3 ran through 2009 before the G5 (Cirrus skipped G4) launched in 2013.

As of mid-2026, the G3 SR22 fleet remains a strong segment of the used market. The combination of glass panel, large fuel tanks, and post-2007 build quality makes G3 airplanes attractive to buyers who don't want to pay G5 or current Generation pricing. Several thousand G3 SR22 airplanes are in active service, with strong support through Cirrus authorized service centers and the type's vibrant owner community.

The SR22 G3 cruises at 175 to 185 KTAS at 75% power and 8,000 feet, burning 15 to 17 gph at high cruise. Long-range cruise at 65% power drops fuel burn to 13 to 15 gph at 165 to 175 KTAS. Lean-of-peak operation with the IO-550-N can pull cruise burn down to 12 to 13 gph at moderate power settings. The normally-aspirated installation runs cleaner than the turbocharged SR22T but with reduced high-altitude performance.

Useful load is the G3's quiet strength. The G3 longer wing and updated airframe deliver 1,150 to 1,250 pounds of useful load. Full fuel is 92 gallons (552 pounds), leaving 600 to 700 pounds for four people and bags. That works for four normal-sized adults with light bags on long-leg trips. The increased fuel capacity versus earlier SR22s gives the G3 meaningful range advantage: 1,000 nm with reserves at long-range cruise versus 800 nm on G1 and G2 airplanes.

Handling is the modern Cirrus standard. The composite airframe is stiff and responsive. The side-stick controller (essentially unique among certified singles) takes some adjustment but feels natural after a few hours. CAPS deployment training is mandatory for transition and the system's existence shapes how Cirrus pilots think about flight planning, decision-making, and emergency procedures.

The Continental IO-550-N (310 hp, six-cylinder, fuel injected, normally aspirated) is the engine in all G3 SR22 (non-turbo) airplanes. Continental's published TBO is 2,000 hours per Continental Service Information Letter SIL 98-9E. The IO-550-N runs at moderate stress in the Cirrus installation and typically reaches published TBO.

Field overhaul of an IO-550-N runs $50,000 to $65,000 in 2026 at a name-brand shop (Western Skyways, RAM Aircraft, Air Power). Continental factory rebuild runs about $90,000. Most Cirrus owners use Continental or Continental-authorized service for major engine work to maintain factory support relationships.

Propeller is a Hartzell three-blade aluminum constant-speed with a 2,400-hour or six-year overhaul cycle per Hartzell Service Letter HC-SL-61-61Y Rev 12. Overhaul runs $4,000 to $6,500 in 2026.

The SR22 G3 is expensive to operate per hour but offers four-seat cross-country capability with CAPS safety equipment that no other certified single matches at lower cost.

Fuel runs $85 to $120 per hour at $5.50 to $7 per gallon and 15 to 17 gph. Engine reserve is $25 to $33 per hour ($50,000 to $65,000 overhaul amortized across 2,000 hours). Prop reserve is $2 to $3 per hour. Airframe maintenance reserve is $30 to $55 per hour, the high end of the certified single range because of composite airframe inspection, CAPS-related work, and Cirrus-specific maintenance items. CAPS repack reserve adds $1.50 to $2 per hour. All-in at 100 hours a year runs $160 to $220 per hour, plus $7,000 to $13,000 in annual fixed costs.

Cirrus-specific maintenance ecosystem matters. Authorized Cirrus Service Centers have the training and tooling to work on the airplane efficiently. Non-Cirrus shops can do most work but may take longer and produce results that don't match the standards Cirrus owners expect. Insurance underwriters often discount Cirrus airplanes maintained at authorized centers.

Acquisition cost in mid-2026 runs $230,000 to $310,000 for a clean G3 SR22 with original Perspective panel, $310,000 to $415,000 for an updated airplane with current avionics and recent paint, $415,000 to $525,000 for a low-time example with comprehensive avionics retrofit. The G3 is meaningfully cheaper than G5 or newer SR22s while offering substantially similar capability.